Lakewood Sewer Fees & Dig Permits Guide

Utilities and Infrastructure California 4 Minutes Read ยท published March 08, 2026 Flag of California

Lakewood, California property owners and contractors must follow city rules for sewer connections, fees, and any excavation in public rights-of-way. This guide explains which city departments enforce fees and dig/encroachment permits, typical application steps, enforcement pathways, and where to find official forms and contact points. It is intended for homeowners, developers, plumbers, and municipal contractors who need to budget for sewer-related charges or plan work that disturbs the public way.

Apply for encroachment permits well before scheduled excavation to avoid work delays.

Overview of Sewers and Dig Permits

The City of Lakewood administers permitting and inspection for excavations that affect city streets and rights-of-way through its Public Works/Engineering function; specific encroachment and excavation permit procedures are set out on the city engineering pages [2]. Sewer fees, connection charges, and ongoing utility rates are established by ordinance and listed in the municipal code and official fee schedules [1]. Building permits or grading permits required for deeper excavations are handled by the Building Safety or Planning departments [3].

Penalties & Enforcement

Enforcement is handled by the departments identified above (Public Works/Engineering and Building Safety). Where municipal code or department pages state fines or sanctions, those figures are listed below; where a numeric penalty or escalation scheme is not shown on the cited official page, the text notes that it is "not specified on the cited page" and cites the source.

  • Monetary fines: not specified on the cited page; see the municipal code and fee schedule for exact amounts [1].
  • Escalation: first offence, repeat, and continuing offences are not specified on the cited page; administrative penalties or per-day fines may apply under code provisions [1].
  • Non-monetary sanctions: stop-work orders, restoration requirements, permit revocation, and referral to municipal court or civil action are authorized in typical municipal enforcement sections, though specific remedies are not fully enumerated on the cited page [1].
  • Enforcer and complaints: Public Works/Engineering accepts encroachment complaints and inspection requests; Building Safety handles permit compliance [2][3].
If you receive a stop-work order, contact the issuing department immediately to learn remedial steps.

Applications & Forms

Common applications relevant to sewer work and digging in public rights-of-way include encroachment/permit-to-excavate applications administered by Public Works/Engineering, and building or grading permit forms for structural or deep excavations. The exact form names, numbers, fees, and submittal methods are published on the city department pages or the municipal fees schedule where available.

  • Encroachment/Excavation Permit Application: name/number and fee schedule not specified on the cited page; check the Public Works/Engineering permit page for current forms and online submission instructions [2].
  • Sewer Connection or Service Application: specific form names or fees are not specified on the cited municipal pages; consult the municipal code and fee schedule for connection charges [1].
  • Plan review and inspection fees: typically listed in the official fee schedule; exact fees are not specified on the cited page [1].
Some projects require both an encroachment permit and a separate building or grading permit.

Action Steps

  • Identify whether your work affects the public right-of-way and obtain an encroachment permit before work begins.
  • Download and submit the listed permit application(s) with plans, traffic control, and insurance certificates as required by the department.
  • Pay applicable fees and secure inspections; retain receipts for appeals.
  • If notified of a violation, contact the issuing office immediately and follow remediation instructions to avoid escalation.

FAQ

Do I need a permit to dig in a Lakewood street?
Yes. Excavation that disturbs the public right-of-way generally requires an encroachment or excavation permit from Public Works/Engineering. See the city engineering permit page for details [2].
How are sewer connection fees set?
Sewer connection charges and utility fees are set by municipal ordinance and the city fee schedule; exact amounts should be verified in the municipal code and current fee listings [1].
Who inspects excavation work?
Public Works/Engineering inspects encroachment and street restoration work; Building Safety inspects structural and deep excavation work when a building or grading permit is involved [2][3].

How-To

  1. Determine permit needs: check Public Works/Engineering and Building Safety requirements.
  2. Gather documents: site plans, traffic control plans, proof of insurance, contractor licenses, and technical drawings.
  3. Submit applications: use the citys online portal or paper submittal as directed on the department page.
  4. Pay fees: review the municipal fee schedule for plan review, inspection, and connection charges.
  5. Schedule inspections and comply with restoration requirements to close the permit.

Key Takeaways

  • Start permit applications early to avoid project delays.
  • Verify current sewer fees and connection charges in the municipal code and fee schedule.
  • Contact Public Works/Engineering or Building Safety with questions before starting work.

Help and Support / Resources

  1. [1] Lakewood Municipal Code and fee schedules
  2. [2] City of Lakewood  Public Works / Engineering - permits
  3. [3] City of Lakewood  Building Safety

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